Uptake and decomposition of chlorozotocin in L5178Y lymphoblasts in vitro

Uptake and metabolism of 2-[3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosoureido]-D-glucopyranose (chlorozotocin) by L5178Y lymphoblasts in vitro was investigated, using both glucose- and chloroethyl-labeled chlorozotocin. A time course of uptake of total radioactivity revealed a greater cell/medium distribution ratio of activity in cells treated with chloroethyl-labeled chlorozotocin compared to cells treated with the glucose-labeled compound. Thin-layer chromatographic analysis showed that uptake of intact chlorozotocin was identical in cells treated with either glucose- or chloroethyl-labeled drug and that the cell/medium distribution ratio never exceeded unity. Accumulation of 14C-chlorozotocin was not inhibited by an excess of unlabeled chlorozotocin, the structural analogs glucose and glucosamine, or several metabolic inhibitors or by sodium ion depletion. These observations, together with the relatively low temperature quotient for the uptake process, suggested that chlorozotocin uptake occurs by passive diffusion. In cells treated with glucose-labeled chlorozotocin, a bicyclic urethan derivative and polar metabolites soluble in trichloroacetic acid were formed. In cells exposed to chloroethyl-labeled drug, nonpolar as well as polar metabolites were noted. Formation of metabolites from the glucose moiety was impeded by the presence of an excess of unlabeled chlorozotocin, the structural analogs glucose and glucosamine, the glucose transport inhibitors phlorizin and phloretin, the metabolic inhibitor m-chlorophenyl carbonyl cyanide hydrazone and by sodium depletion. Appearance of metabolites arising from the chloroethyl moiety was also blocked by the presence of m-chlorophenyl carbonyl cyanide hydrazone and by sodium ion depletion. These results suggested that metabolism of chlorozotocin in L51789Y lymphoblasts appears to be enzyme mediated.